Surely Larry Brown nurtured the demons living in Iversons head. He suckled him on the teat of ego-centricity as it was the only liquid that ran in Larrys blood. He passed the mutant gene to the "one" and it over-powered the lesser human traits, humbleness, thoughfulness, charm and grace (in medical circles it is whispered the gene forever retards the growth of grace).

But in fact - the 76'ers were wandering in the "dustland" after jettisoning Barkley back in June of '92. The 76'ers were sucking dry wind and were falling away into nothingness until finally getting little "me-me" in the draft of '96. Pat Croce took over and they brought in the big "me-me" to raise the little one in the ways of the world, in the template of the NBA (LB's NBA).

The two syncophants entwined themselves around one another and the parasite-host, host-parasite became one. The "one". The Answer.

The organization sold its soul to the devil asking only for the sound of raptous fans voices reflecting off the cavernous walls of Wachovia Center, (a coincidence that they were one the first teams to sell their "Spectrum Center" name off to a "commercial" entity? I think not).

They craved the sound of coins rattling in cash drawers and little feet scuttling about in tiny #3 jerseys. They cared not for what they grew, only that it attracted ambulance chasers and accident watchers.

The organization's soul less head spawned the graceless answer. The organizations staff spared the rod and spoilt the milk.

Thirteen years later we see the disconnected graceless one wandering lost, myopically dragging his legend behind him like an anchor on a rope. From the "dustland" he arrived and to the dustbin he seems destined to return.

In an odd but somewhat relevant way, take note that the number 13 is a number you won't find in an elevator. There's no tenents on #13, no mail delivered, no laughter in the hallways. It's the lost floor.....

I know first and ten on espn in the morning is about debate and sometimes they have to really streatch to get both sides of a debate covered.. and as I am a rural middle aged white guy alot of times I can't understand inner city young kids of any race.... that all said....

One of the guys said that AI is all but being black balled by the teams in the league and that because just two years ago he averaged 28 points a game that it must not be AI but the teams that are at fault here...

Can anybody argue from a front office side explain how that is possible to this dumb country hick?

I know first and ten on espn in the morning is about debate and sometimes they have to really streatch to get both sides of a debate covered.. and as I am a rural middle aged white guy alot of times I can't understand inner city young kids of any race.... that all said....

One of the guys said that AI is all but being black balled by the teams in the league and that because just two years ago he averaged 28 points a game that it must not be AI but the teams that are at fault here...

Can anybody argue from a front office side explain how that is possible to this dumb country hick?

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AI lives in "Truman Show". It has been perfectly built show so far because of "victim" of it still sincerely believes that "Truman Show" is real life.

There are some cracks in the image - AI rising white flag in Detroit was not written in the script, but this project has been too profitable for abandoning, we'll see some desperate attempts to extend it, even if there won't be so many followers as before.

the fact that AI ran like a coward from Detroit and it caught JoeD totally pants off, says that even NBA front offices believe in "Truman Show".

"I don't want to get into a he said-she said with Allen Iverson," Hollins said Tuesday night. "Allen has his own interpretation of things. I know the truth. He knows the truth. What I would like to do is let Allen handle his [personal] issues, make a decision on whether he's coming back or not and concentrate on what we have to do as a team, both if he's not here and if he is here."

Lionel Hollins is old school. AI needs a touchy-feely kind of coach. Hollins is not going to put up with a drama queen. It seems as though his teammates are sick of him, too. This is what happens when an owner involves himself with player selection. I dont think the coach or gm wanted AI on the team.

Teammates tend to get sick of a guy really quickly when he's calling for their starting job and suggesting that the coach bench them in favor of him. Even if you bring the donuts, they won't stick up for you.

Teammates tend to get sick of a guy really quickly when he's calling for their starting job and suggesting that the coach bench them in favor of him. Even if you bring the donuts, they won't stick up for you.

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Memphis is 1-7....there is some decent talent on that team where they should have at least 2-3 victories. You have to wonder if the AI issue is affecting the teams' psyche...look what it did to us last year and we supposedly had better players.

AI needs to go over seas where he can be DA Man for a couple of years, skip practice and wear whatever he wants on the team bus...jerseys, chains, hair rags under his cap and then retire gracefully...

Memphis is 1-7....there is some decent talent on that team where they should have at least 2-3 victories. You have to wonder if the AI issue is affecting the teams' psyche...look what it did to us last year and we supposedly had better players.

AI needs to go over seas where he can be DA Man for a couple of years, skip practice and wear whatever he wants on the team bus...jerseys, chains, hair rags under his cap and then retire gracefully...